Despite the fact that they haven't made the playoffs in 12 years, the Minnesota Timberwolves will enter next season with high expectations.

The team certainly has a young nucleus of talent that features Andrew Wiggins, Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine, and Karl-Anthony Towns. The 2015-16 season displayed some of that potential, as they were one of nine teams to defeat the Golden State Warriors during the regular season.

Perhaps the biggest reason for hope in Minnesota is the hiring of their new head coach and team president, Tom Thibodeau.

Thibodeau was given dual roles of power (President and Head Coach) to go along with his five-year, $40 million deal. Despite his job titles, the former NBA Coach of the Year stressed at his introductory conference that this is not about him having total control.

“For me, personally, this is about alignment,” Thibodeau said at the press conference. “It's not about power. It's not about any of that stuff. I've known (general manager) Scott (Layden) a long time. We've shared philosophies with each other about certain things. He was the person that I really wanted. So I'm glad we had the opportunity to get him.”

Tom Thibodeau timberwolves
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Layden was hired as general manager specifically as a pairing with Thibodeau. The duo envision their collaboration as similar to what Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford have with the San Antonio Spurs. Buford and Popovich have been a collective pair for all five of the Spurs' championships since 1999.

While that's a lofty comparison, the point is well understood. If both Thibodeau and Layden can co-exist on the same page, the Timberwolves' ceiling is endless considering their depth of talent.

Entering the 2016-17 season, the Wolves may be the biggest dark horse in the NBA due to the man with a dual job title.